RESEARCH: Monthly Cost of Car Ownership If you're a young adult, looking for your first car, it's usually best to buy used to save some money. That said, it's not just the initial price of the car that you need to worry about: There are taxes, fees, maintenance, gas, etc. that impact your monthly cost of car ownership. Part I: Cost of a Car The first thing you must do is determine the Make and Model of the car you'd like to purchase. If you are not sure, you can use google to find one. What is the Make and Model of the car you'd like